4 Days of golf in Denver

cubuffs · July 22

Denver native now living in Nashville who will be coming back for 4 days (8/4 - 8/7) with my son (+2 index, plays in college) to visit my Mother and play in the altitude. We always make Summer trip, so I have played most all of the typical public options - so looking for some feedback to potentially change it up a bit. My Mother lives in Lakewood, but we are willing to drive up to an hour - so that brings Bear Dance in South, and TPC Colorado up north. Here is what I am thinking right now, but some questions based on following the Rockies forum.

Monday: Arrive 9:20AM and have a time booked at Walnut Creek for 12:20. Son played in the Hale Irwin AJGA and this is one of his favorite courses (I really enjoy this one too). Was thinking GVR since my Son hasn't played there, but they have a tournament in AM.

Tuesday: Booked the old standby of Fossil Trace for 9:50. I have played here 25+ times and my son 10+. This is one I would be willing to trade out.

Wednesday: Was thinking of going back to Bear Dance - we both have played there and the Ridge, but potentially thinking of subbing Red Hawk Ridge in or even Plum Creek.

Thursday: We are flying out at 4:50 so thinking staying close to home and playing Fox Hollow early AM to allow time to get to DIA.

I am also looking at getting access to private. We belong to a good (but not upper tier) private club, so any recommendations on a private would be good. I haven't played Lakewood or Rolling Hills in quite some time, so was potentially thinking there.

Any thoughts would be highly welcomed - right now we are 97 with oppressive humidity in TN, so getting to some dryer air will be welcomed.

pseudoswede · July 29

For Tuesday, perhaps consider Commonground, Murphy Creek, GVR, or Colorado National (used to be the home course for CU). Your son will probably enjoy playing from the tips on those courses. University of Denver Golf Club in Highlands Ranch could also be considered, but it's not as long as the others (along with some questionable holes).

I think someone with a skill level like your son would find Red Hawk Ridge pretty boring--unless he wants an ego boost and shoot in the low 60's which is certainly in the realm of possibilities if he can get his wedge approaches close to the pin. Plum Creek isn't a terrible idea. They* have revived the course back to playable conditions.

It hit 100° yesterday and 98° today. It's going to cool down this week, but it should be back in the 90's next week with your typical Colorado thunderstorms every afternoon.

* - same ownership group runs Bear Dance and Colorado National; and lots of other courses around the country

cubuffs · July 29

Thanks for the response. Somehow, having played all over the front range, I have never played Murphy Creek so planning on adding that one into the mix. Right now, here is what we are thinking:

Monday - arrive and play Ridge at Castle Pines

Tuesday - Murphy Creek and GVR (I have played here, my son hasn't)

Wednesday - 36 at Walnut Creek

Thursday - Still open - fly out at 4:35.

Son has played Colorado National as part of the CU golf camp back in 2019 - we always enjoyed playing out there.

cubuffs · July 31

Given we have both played the Ridge, would you swap that out for Murphy Creek the first day? Has anyone played there recently and how was the condition. Obviously a much shorter drive after landing at DIA.

We are playing Colorado National early on Thursday before flying out.

Edited July 31 by cubuffs